We Don't Need 'Guest Workers'

Washington [Com] Post ^ | 22 March 2006 | Robert Samuelson

[RKV]

Economist Philip Martin of the University of California likes to tell a story about the state's tomato industry. In the early 1960s, growers relied on seasonal Mexican laborers, brought in under the government's "bracero" program. The Mexicans picked the tomatoes that were then processed into ketchup and other products. In 1964 Congress killed the program despite growers' warnings that its abolition would doom their industry. What happened? Well, plant scientists developed oblong tomatoes that could be harvested by machine. Since then, California's tomato output has risen fivefold.

It's a story worth remembering, because we're being warned again that we need huge numbers of "guest workers" -- meaning unskilled laborers from Mexico and Central America -- to relieve U.S. "labor shortages."

[RKV]

Money Quote: "What we have now -- and would with guest workers -- is a conscious policy of creating poverty in the United States while relieving it in Mexico. By and large, this is a bad bargain for the United States. It stresses local schools, hospitals and housing; it feeds social tensions (witness the Minutemen). To be sure, some Americans get cheap housecleaning or landscaping services. But if more mowed their own lawns or did their own laundry, it wouldn't be a tragedy."

[RKV]

A bit more: Business organizations understandably support guest worker programs. They like cheap labor and ignore the social consequences. What's more perplexing is why liberals, staunch opponents of poverty and inequality, support a program that worsens poverty and inequality. Poor immigrant workers hurt the wages of unskilled Americans. The only question is how much. Studies suggest a range "from negligible to an earnings reduction of almost 10 percent," according to the CBO.

[TommyDale]

...and the guest workers "Don't need no stinking badges!"

[RKV]

LOL

[Vaquero]

'.and the guest workers "Don't need no stinking badges!"'

[tomzz]

The US economy ran pretty well without illegal aliens in the 50s and 60s.

[cripplecreek]

We certainly don't need any guest workers to do the limited number of jobs in Michigan but we've got plenty of illegals.

[W04Man]

Yeah, but while they are mowing their lawns and doing their own laundry, they are not earning the big bucks to pay YOUR taxes, and keep the economy growing. I don't think we want the economy to slow down now, do we? Then your right wing conservative taxes would go up!

[A. Pole]

[...]
Since 1980 the number of Hispanics with incomes below the government's poverty line (about $19,300 in 2004 for a family of four) has risen 162 percent. Over the same period, the number of non-Hispanic whites in poverty rose 3 percent and the number of blacks, 9.5 percent. What we have now -- and would with guest workers -- is a conscious policy of creating poverty in the United States while relieving it in Mexico.
[...]
To be sure, some Americans get cheap housecleaning or landscaping services. But if more mowed their own lawns or did their own laundry, it wouldn't be a tragedy.
[...]
President Bush says his guest worker program would "match willing foreign workers with willing American employers, when no Americans can be found to fill the jobs." But at some higher wage, there would be willing Americans.
[...]
Business organizations understandably support guest worker programs. They like cheap labor and ignore the social consequences.
[...]

Open borders bump

[ConsentofGoverned]

How does one obtain data for conclusions by CBO of 0 to 10% reduction in wages..they are illegals working off the books ..just looking at construction jobs the illegals are cutting labor costs dramatically how much who knows as they are the invisible worker..afraid of ICE afraid to talk - They are modern slaves and the church's - and progressives who support this system are todays enablers of slavery..IMO the impact of illegal labor is much much higher than 10% drop in wages. but like the CBO it is a guess.

[RKV]

The net benefit to the US economy is positive when we reduce imports of low-wage foreign labor when combined with the destruction of the welfare state. Its a two-fer.

[HankReardon]

Does this guy buy his own groceries? He should talk to someone who does, in a less affluent neighborhood. He would see the Americans who won't do these jobs.

Americans won't do the jobs illegal Mexicans will do because they are getting free food, housing and medical care from the government.

If the governement stopped making it comfortable and practical for people to be "poor" Americans would magically be willing to do these jobs.

[KarlInOhio]

What's more perplexing is why liberals, staunch opponents of poverty and inequality, support a program that worsens poverty and inequality.

Where did you get the idea that liberals are opponents of poverty? Sure, they want to send money to poor people, but look at them howl when anyone puts forward an idea to actually reduce poverty like workfare or school vouchers. They want a large class of people that are dependent on them. If the poor are upwardly mobile then they might not be as loyal to the Dems.

[RKV]

I did get A's in graduate level economics classes, but this one is Econ 101. If you increase the supply of a given commodity (low wage labor in this case), then the price for that commodity goes down all other things being equal (ceteris paribus). That is why it cuts wages for other workers of equal skill and experience and also why businessmen like illegals (their use gives the competitive advantage over others who don't have the option or won't hire illegals for other reasons [as in they obey our laws]).

[HankReardon]

A liberal's policies are working when there a lot of people receiving government assistance, a conservatives polcies are working when more and more people do not need government assistance.

[RKV]

"If the governement stopped making it comfortable and practical for people to be "poor" Americans would magically be willing to do these jobs." From your lips to GWB's ears. ;>)

[cripplecreek]

Back in the good ole days when John Engler was our governer here in Michigan, he took a chain saw to our welfare roles and really pissed a lot of people off. After they got over being mad they started finding jobs, buying houses and cars and actually helped the economy.

[mouske]

The auto parts plant in Michigan where I work has ninety percent Arabs (Yemen) on the second shift. They commute from Dearborn. A good portion do not speak, read, write, or understand English. I often wonder how many of them are illegal.

[RKV]

I didn't say that, Samuelson did. He is not always right, but has this one pretty well figured for a lib (supply and demand wise at least). He does repeat the liberal lie about libs caring about poverty and inequity - libs like to use poverty to manipulate voters would be a truer statement.

[philetus]

Watch the flash intro, with sound.

http://www.wehategringos.com/index2.shtml